2005 Album Releases

So this is the last of this series. 2005 Albums was I think the first Collab Album of the Year event and certainly the first I took part in (as part of the Eclectic Prog team, along with Ricochet). How time flies. I remember Kate Bush's Aerial being advertised like it was yesterday. I wanted to get this done to be honest, because I am feeling way better (finally) and I do have a busy time in the days ahead of me. I do hope to continue spending some time each day adding more yearly lists at Awesome Prog (which also involves adding artists and albums) at least. And I would like to share my lists made there here (maybe just the top 20 per year) and hopefully others will too. I love to share and compare lists and discuss favourite albums with others who share those passions. That is something I mostly only do online, and that's fine with me.

For this poll I decided not to do the other, which has been intended for votes if one likes none in the list. I do like having three sets of eight choices plus "other" for 25 options (a full house) but I really wanted to list my nine, people can mention any other favourites in a post anyway, and I think that my intentions for how to use other did not come across as clearly with all as I had hoped. People expect polls to operate in very familiar ways and responding/ voting can become a very automatic process. Doing things differently can just lead to confusion, but I like different approaches, and trying different things can help to delay things like dementia.

So this poll again comes in three sections. The first is the unfiltered (default) except by year top eight of the PA Album charts. The second is eight of the top ten albums from the Collab Album of 2005 event (there were too in the actual top eight that were already mentioned). The third section is nine of my top ten for 2005 at Awesome Prog (Guapo was already listed and I avoid duplicates in the poll).

Please vote for an option and mention that album in a post if you like any of those. Additionally, please mention any others you like and what your actual favourites are if not listed. I am interested to know what people like both on and off the list, and what they don't like if they have story to tell there. And I love to hear about how albums connect with you. There have been many wonderful posts made throughout this series, and I love those ones that share something personal and highlight your connections to music. Thanks again to all those who participated in these, some have made very considerable efforts, but I know lots of us do enjoy the list-making and evaluating music experience. It deepens my love for music and is joyful expression to me of things I care about and I appreciate that that sense of caring comes through with various others who have responded.

The Top Eight PA Prog Chart Albums for 2005

1. Opeth - Ghost Reveries (Tech/Extreme Prog Metal)
2. Riverside - Second Life Syndrome (Prog Metal)
3. Neal Morse - ? [Aka: Question Mark] (Symphonic Prog)
4. Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up (Jazz Rock/Fusion)
5. Nil - Nil Novo Sub Sole (Eclectic Prog)
6. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing (Heavy Prog)
7. Sieges Even - The Art of Navigating by the Stars (Progressive Metal)
8. Redemption - The Fullness of Time (Progressive Metal)

From the op ten albums for the Collab album event for 2005 (link to post with top 80)

Porcupine Tree - Deadwing (the collab album of the year, already listed at #6 in PA's chart)
1. VDGG - Present (Eclectic Prog)
Opeth - Ghost Reveries (the actual #3, already listed)
2. The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute (Heavy Prog)
3. Wobbler - Hinterland (Symphonic Prog)
4. Izz - My River Flows (Symphonic Prog)
5. Pendragon - Believe (Neo-Prog)
6. Fantomas - Suspended Animation (RIO/Avant-Prog)
7. Shadow Gallery - Room V (Prog Metal)
8. Guapo - Black Oni (RIO/Avant Prog)

My top nine at Awesome prog

1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (not in PA, Chamber Pop/Folk)
2. Coil - The Ape of Naples (in PA, Progressive Electronic)
3. Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase (not in PA, Folktronica, IDM, Downtempo)
4. Broadcast - Tender Buttons (not in PA, Indietronica, Ambient Pop, Neo-Psychedelia)
Guapo - Black Oni (already listed in Collab AOTY chart, was I think my #1 back then)
5. Sigur Rós - Takk... (in PA, Post-Rock)
6. Espers - The Weed Tree (Prog Folk)
7. Electric Masada - At The Mountains of Madness (in PA, RIO/Avant Prog)
8. The Future Kings of England - The Future Kings of England (in PA, Psych/Space Rock)
9. Kate Bush - Aerial (in PA, Crossover Prog)

A wonderful year methinks. Here is my current top twenty at Awesome Prog

1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois [AP Prog]
2. Coil - The Ape Of Naples
3. Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase [AP Non-Prog]
4. Broadcast - Tender Buttons [AP Non-Prog]
5. Guapo - Black Oni
6. Sigur Rós - Takk...
7. Espers - The Weed Tree
8. John Zorn - At The Mountains Of Madness (Electric Masada) [AP Non-Prog]
9. The Future Kings of England - The Future Kings Of England
10. Kate Bush - Aerial
11. Miasma & The Carousel of Headless Horses - Perils
12. God is an Astronaut - All is Violent, All is Bright
13. Boris - Pink
14. The National - Alligator [AP Non-Prog]
15. KoenjiHyakkei - Angherr Shisspa
16. GAM - Eiszeit
17. Paavoharju - Yhä hämärää [AP Non-Prog]
18. Kraftwerk - Minimum Maximum [AP Prog]
19. Bondage Fruit - Bondage Fruit VI
20. Miriodor - Parade

And a track from my album of the year (I love, love Sufjan Stevens music and this is a wonderful way to end this series):

Kate Bush - Aerial 

That was a great year for prog. Ghost Reveries, arguably the best Opeth album, takes the cake for me.\

Sieges Even - The Art of Navigating by the Stars

Electric Masada > Guapo, The Future Kings Of England, Sigur Ros, PT

Opeth is the winner for me here. Sigur Ros, Sufjan Stevens and Porcupine Tree are also good. But I think we are getting out of the range of the music I know well, I don't know most of this list and I love my favourites on this list a bit less than other lists.

Wobbler

One of those rare occasions when my NO1 is not from prog.